Category: Ifa

Sign Of The Year 2014 - Miami, Florida

1/8/2014

For all of the Priests of Ifá and the Religious Public in General.

This past 31 of December of 2013, a group of prominent priests of Ifá gathered, representing the majority of religious families in the United States, and counting, as well, the support of 159 practitioners of the Yoruba Faith—of whom 116 are babalawos.

The ceremonias were carried out at 12605 SW 43rd Street, Miami, Florida 33175. Thirty three Awó of Orunmila and 25 babaloshas, iyaloshas, iworos, and aleyos of national and international recognition were present. They possess considerable capacity and knowledge and their analysis is summarized thusly:

Reigning Sign:
Baba Eyiogbe

Prophecy:
Iré Ashegunotá Ojale Lese Olofin Onishesi; Obi Omí tuto, Itaná Meyi Kaure Iyo Meyo, Otan

Significance:
A firm victory over difficulties via the mandate of God. Open two coconuts, two candles, pray for eight days at the foot of Olofin (God).

Reigning Deity: Yemayá
Yemayá is the mother of everyone on the earth. She represents the uterus within every species as a source of life, fertility, and motherhood. She is symbolized in nature by the waves of the sea, by her dance—which resembles the waves themselves. She represents, as well, the intelligence, wisdom, and the changing character of things, just as the sea changes. As syncretized, she is compared with the Virgin of Regla (7 September). Her number is seven and its multiples. Her color is blue and its various tonalities. She is saluted thusly: “¡Omío Yemaya Omoloddé! ¡Yemaya Ataramawa!”

Accompanying Deity:
Shangó

Ebó:
1 rooster, 2 macaos, 1 white rose, a ribbon of 9 colors, white sweet potato, and the rest of the ingredients.

In this sign are born:
· Putting a piece of coconut under the left foot of the person for whom an Itá is being performed.
·         The Itá of santo
·         The coup d’etat
·         The diffusion of languages
·         Awán Foguede
·         Rivers
·         Blood vessels and the lymph nodes
·         The reason that water is given to the orishas when they come: they come thirsty
·         The washing of the feet of birds that are sacrificed to the santos and the orishas.

The Sign Marks:
·         Problems of the mitral valve
·         Humility and patience.

Forecasts:
·         An increase in illnesses
·         An increase in heart attacks
·         An increase in arterial blood pressure
·         Respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, bronchitis, etc.
·         Alzheimer’s disease, which entails memory loss and behavioral disorders
·         Blood problems, in the blood vessels and lymph nodes
·         Problems in the spinal column, the sternum, and thorasic cavity
·         Kidney, renal gland, and bladder problems
·         Stomach problems, such as gastritis, ulcers, apendicitis
·         Vision problems, including blindness
·         Hormonal affects, with consequences for the pituitary and pineal glands, such as endocrine and metabolic disorders
·         An incease in musculoskeletal problems, such as growth problems and anomalies in the spinal column
·         An increase in diabetes

Events of Social Concern:
·         Coup d’ etat and the loss of famous personalities; family and national conflict
·         An increase in protection along borders in order to avoid massive migrations and terrorist attacks, espionage in the country, at work, and in social life. Avoiding or countering this is necessary to guard personal secrets as much as state and social secrets (do not reveal secrets).
·         It is important to take adequate measures to be vigilant in our personal lives and social relations.
·         The sign predicts great luck in all areas, because the sign poses the rebirth of material life; the economy and realty values will improve.
·         Inundation by the sea is predicted, with its dire consequences.
·         The breakup of couples through infidelity; the loss of love and economic problems.
·         The young will triumph and there will be room for them in important positions in the country in political and social affairs.

Recommendations:
·         Respect family elders and religión
·         Be humble and honest
·         Put emphasis in the organization of all aspects of your life
·         Have patience and good character
·         Don’t be overly-ambitious or greedy and respect moral, social and ethical limits
·         Take care of your personal life.
·         Increase your faith and spirituality
·         Dress in white as much as posible and don’t dress in stripes
·         Maintain family unity
·         Take care of the ecosystem and zones protected for ecological preservation, respecting nature.
·         Love the Earth as our home, taking care of the family and the nation.
·         Love your brother as much as yourself.
·         Defend our ancestors and our roots
·         Avoid the distortion of our religious principles; advocate for good beginnings and ends of all processes and universal events, maintaining a perfect balance in procreation.
·         Avoid embarrassment as a factor in personal and social risk
·         As of the seventh month of the year, favorable changes will be seen in the social and economic order.
·         Professional achievement (in study, qualifications, and instruction)
·         Avoid eating egg, white sweet potato (boniato), and guanábana.
·         Don’t use striped clothes, because it attracts imprisonment
·         Don’t get involved in anything that’s none of your business
·         Don’t take messages at night
·         Don’t enter any house without permission to avoid embarrassments
·         Don’t permit children to crawl on the floor in your house.
·         Don’t gamble

Works of the Sign:
·         Head rogation
·         Give a goat to Eshú (Eleguá)
·         Dress in white as much as possible
·         Put Eleguá behind the front door and salute him upon entering and leaving
·         A bath with almácigo, white flowers, and cascarilla (efún)
·         Head rogation with 2 guinea hens—one white and the other speckled (if you can)
·         Children of Shangó, give partridges from your head to your orisha.
·         A calabash with water and 16 okra—cut the okra very finely, mix it up, and pour it on top of Eleguá so that he works.
·         Blow anise on Oshosi, or aguardiente and cigar smoke, and light a candle so that he cleans the path and there be triumph in life and in Ifá
·         To prosper, give two white hens to Obatalá and two white doves to Oshún. Then take six baths with Albahaca Cimarrón, Piñon de Rosa, and Prodigiosa
·         Make masses to deceased elders
·         People who have santo made should receive various orishas; [those who don’t should] get initiated. You have to fulfill your obligations.
·         Go to the sea to visit Yemayá and Olokun and pray to them.
·         Make a head rogation with two white doves and a red snapper (see your godfather).

Proverbs of the sign:
·         The tail of the fish never stops moving
·         The elephant is very strong, but not strong enough to defeat the wind
·         The eyes can’t rise above the head
·         Okra can’t grow taller than the person who planted it; if it does, we cut it down or pull it out
·         No hat can be more famous than the crown
·         The head carries the body and only one king governs a people
·         The young feathers grow more thickly than the older ones
·         Dead king, crowned king [a king dies, a new one is crowned]
·         I have everything; Everything is missing
·         It’s an error not to have learned from errors you committed
·         When your head is on your shoulders, your thoughts on the horizon, and your feet in salt water, you have no doubt but that you’re facing the ocean
·         Where there is life there is hope
·         No sound is so strong that it can block out the sound of a bell

Invitation:
All priests of Ifá, Oriatés, Babaloshas, Iyaloshas, Iworos, and the religious public are invited to attend, dressed in white, a Tambor de Fundamento dedicated to the reigning orishas Yemayá and Shangó, on Sunday, 12 January at 2:00 p.m., at 12605 SW 43rd Street, Miami, Florida, 33175, telephone: 786-768-5206, in order to pray for the peace, health, and stability of all humanity.

Gratitude:
We are grateful for the participation of all the priests of Ifá, Oriatés, Babaloshas, Iyaloshas, Iworos, Apetebis, Awofakan, and others who contributed their donations in order to carry out the sign of the year.

WISHING YOUR A HAPPY 2014 YEAR!
KOLA IFA MIAMI
The Commission Organized for the Sign of the Year
IBORU IBOYA IBOSHISHE

Flag Of The Year

2 Comments

SYMBOLISM OF ORISHA PRIMARY COLORS

12/9/2013

3 Comments

Our religious art is like painting on canvas with never-ending creations of beauty using primary colors. Each color and pattern is used in representation of an orisha archetype and type. At a glance, the aesthetics capture the imagination of the viewer. We can undeniably say that are religion is color coded. I have found it very difficult to find an elder that can adequately describe the symbology of each color and their relationship to each other. It is my opinion that the lack of explanation opens the portal of misunderstanding and irrational change. Nowadays, many people debate taking the position that wearing white during the first year of priesthood ordination e.g. Iyawó is not necessary and may be changed. The idea seems to come from a notion that wearing white to term is an old tradition unrelated to spiritual significance. Opinions are abundant but, I never hear members of the religious hierarchy teach the symbolism of orisha colors. In the spirit of preserving our Lukumi enlightenment, I present what was taught to me along with a video demonstration of a burning white candle.

Colors and Their Associations
White: principle of expansion, illumination, revelation, all primary colors within.
Red: associated with pink, brown, and yellow.
Blue: associated with black and green.
Yellow: associated with red.
Black: hidden, concealed, secret.
Combined white, red, black: associated with an archetype of elegba and the revelation of a dangerous secret. This composition is most complex but its basic cosmic correction should be well understood.

Color Values
White: sperm, urine, rain water, sky, exposure or exterior of areas, reflection, mirror.
Red: blood, menses, fire, without the presence of black represents danger or infertility.
Blue: correspond to black values.
Yellow: correspond to red values.
Black: corresponds to essentials that are transformable for creating form, conception, absorption.

SYMBOLOGY OF COLORS
Since the topic is expansive, I’ll limit this part of the presentation to basic correlations using my candle experiment illustrated in the video. The four primary colors appear with an interesting structure. Viewing from bottom up we see the black + red dot fire at tip. It is surrounded by a lower portion of blue and upper portion of yellow. This means the central part is a combination of black and red. If we divide it in half we have the bottom combination blue corresponding to black. The top half is yellow corresponding to red. The flame going upward is connected to yellow turning red and becomes white. In its outer rim there is a thin line of red that diffuses creating a red circular glow. This example represents the combination of black + red + white. The corresponding symbolism of unity is when a capable recipient for conception [black] with blood [red] comes into contact with sperm [white] fertilization takes place giving birth to illumination. The correspondence is the idea of the cosmic Big Bang theory or electromagnetism.

In the context of human procreation the same combined colors apply. The color black represents womb and when sperm [white] joins blood [red] it ignites or triggers and a baby reveals itself or the revelation of a physical form visibly appears. In other words, Lukumí beliefs are consistent with Quantum Theory and Electromagnetism. Also, the correlation to Hermes-Alchemy of the alchemical marriage or as above, as below, would not be a stretch of the imagination.

Lukumí believes that priesthood ordination constitutes a rebirth process. The person returns to spirit, enters the womb [igbodu] where the new physical form is created, and upon cyclical completion or the idea of the Big Bang, revelation of form appears as a symbol of illumination. Wearing white during cyclical completion, which is a composition of the primary colors in their illuminated form, correlates with the principles of the planetary and earth formations. Although the color white is interpreted as a repellent its energy on the body is a symbol of symmetry, e.g. the mirror effect, reflecting its energy back to sun and moon in direct correlation with the idea of as above, as below. The introduction of another color alteration effects the overall vibrational and alchemical balance that has been calibrated during the cyclical ordination process. A woman may birth a newborn but free-will [ori] alterations during the development can birth a child with deficiencies or defects. The old symbology of orisha colors is a compelling reason not to change tradition on the basis of modernism.

Oba Pichardo 12-1-13

Post by Center For Community Knowledge.

3 Comments

Correlations of Tooth and Muscle Chart in Relationship to Divination

12/9/2013

0 Comments

Olorishas and Babalawos that have participated in my divination classes have learned the dichotomy between concepts of “specificity” vs. traditional generalities. After more than three decades of study and application of divination in the field of health, I've reached a compelling conclusion that should be shared, in benefit to the new generation. Diviners by default rationale interpret odu categories of social, family, economic, spirituality, with greater esteem than the health category. Health issues are routinely interpreted in ambiguous descriptors of symptomatology. A common example is when the odu oshe appears and the person is told to get a blood test, but, it is unclear what type of test or what may be the problem. Is it a matter of toxicology or some deficiency? The blood is a complex issue.

Diviners should be aware that the human anatomy must be approached holistically. In this regard, matters related to the head and body include scrutiny of teeth and muscles. These are rarely addressed through the best divination protocols. Often, health problems are connected to teeth. I highly recommend a knowledge upgrade in the area of tooth and muscle. Charts are available online from various sources.

Oba Ernesto Pichardo
11/01/13

0 Comments

Divine Light: Symbology of Candle Lighting

12/2/2013

1 Comment

Lukumí like many other religious and philosophical systems share a concept of primordial trinity. But, many in our religion seem to believe that the trinity motif is a foreign influence that is unrelated to the purity of Lukumí. My research shows that it is not customary for elders to share the meaning of lighting candles. For the purpose of sharing light I’m using correlations to Sacred Geometry, Hermetic-Alchemy and Quantum Physics as the unifying basis to present the symbology of candle light.

Lukumí belief system begins with the formless infinite universe. Somewhere in the cosmos resides God or the One Substance e.g. Olodumare owner of everlasting abundance. All types of cosmic and earthly morphogenesis emanate from the One source. From the mysteries of formlessness comes light. Our religious belief that light emanates from the mysteries or dynamics of darkness has be proven by Quantum Physics, and, emphasized in Hermetic-Alchemy, Sacred Geometry, Astrology, and others.

Ifa and cowrie divination symbols correspond to other representations. For example: using mathematics the number 1 corresponds to the idea of oneness, single pointedness, mouth or teeth of the cowrie shells, whiteness, illumination. The number one = I line in ifa divination. It is a value of expansion, odd number, white, illumination, and male value. The number two [2] which is represented as a zero [0] or circle = open back portion of cowrie that forms a circle, and in ifa the 0 is used but the double lines [II] are also used meaning the same thing. The circle or O corresponds to cosmic womb, cracked egg. It is a value of contraction, even number, dark, unseen, and female value. The third aspect of the trinity is represented by a mirror symbol. It represents symmetry, duality, reflection of each other, and the idea of “as above, as below” known as “the principle of correspondence.” by Hermes. Also, it corresponds to the Christian belief that we are made in gods’ image which corresponds to astrology. In summation, when 1 expands and unites with 0 [cracks egg] its double/reflection is the mirror. Lukumí color composition of the trinity is black + white + red. These three colors are unified in the archetype orisha Elegba.

Lukumí believe that omorisha is a sibling of orisha. The ordained [olorisha] is interpreted as being an extension of orisha. Moreover, the orisha’s of primordial order are believed to be extensions of God or One Substance. These divinities are the primordial creative forms which are connected to auxiliary siblings. In the morphogenesis of light, eloquently described in Dia Nuñez’s presentation, we can rationalize the unifying values of Obatala and Shango corresponding to the idea of “as above” that expands towards the outer. Lukumí like most other belief systems represent the cosmic light as the Sun symbol. The sun as Olorun is associated with archetype Obatala sacred symbols. The group of orisha funfun correspond to the personification of light.

THE FLAME:

The single dot symbol or flame illustrated in the photo is represented by a circle with a dot in its center. It is the flame as dot surrounded by the circular reflection. This singular cosmic flame becomes unified with its reflection of male + female values described as Omni potent, Omni present, potent unity. The correlations to these three principles are Olofin, Olorun, Olodumare, which are associated with the materialistic Health, Peace, and Welfare/Prosperity. The concept of the flame as single unity unfolds into duality or the earthly symmetry/mirror which relates to the way it returns “as below, as above.”

EARTHLY SYMMETRY:

Lukumí elders teach that white candles are to be used and depending on the context they are specific in numbers. The cosmic flame [white] is a composition of all primary colors associated with egun, araorun, and orisha. In rituals specific to one egun a single white candle is used. The singular candle represents symmetry “as below,” representing the earth sphere of the egun corresponding to unity. When nine candles are used the symbolism connects “as above, as below,” corresponding to the numbers 8 + 1 = [9] which connects to the unity of celestial sphere. This is what Hermes – Alchemy describes as the “transubstantiation of the soul” or the “alchemical marriage” where the unification of two halves bond, therefore, it is the idea that the formless soul rises or reunites with the formless celestial sphere. This idea is identical to Lukumí belief related to the ascension of the soul.

ORISHA SYMMETRY:

The idea of duality is obvious when elders say only two white candles can be lit when addressing one or more orishas, at one time. This is the standard rule. My elders taught me that our body consists of ½ male value plus ½ female value which is a composition of two halves. When lighting the two candles one is to be held in the right hand and the second candle on the left hand. The right candle is placed first connecting to its corresponding celestial one. The second candle on the left hand is placed corresponding to its celestial two described as womb. This symbolism is equivalent to the alchemical marriage. Once both candles are lit they are matching the mirror effect or unity of earth and celestial spheres. When the ritual of head rogation takes place two white candles are lit, therefore, energetically and directionally linking the human too divine light.

Oba Ernesto Pichardo 11/29/2013

This singular cosmic flame becomes unified with its reflection of male + female values described as Omni potent, Omni present, potent unity.

1 Comment

Sign Of The Year 2014 - Miami, Florida

Flag Of The Year

SYMBOLISM OF ORISHA PRIMARY COLORS

Correlations of Tooth and Muscle Chart in Relationship to Divination

Divine Light: Symbology of Candle Lighting

Author

Archives

Categories